CSLB B LICENSE GENERAL CONTRACTOR
EXAM 2026 STUDY GUIDE – VERIFIED
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | CALIFORNIA
CONTRACTOR LICENSE (CLASS B) A+ PREP
CSLB CLASS B GENERAL CONTRACTOR LICENSE EXAM 2026
California Contractor License – A+ Prep Study Guide
300 Verified Questions & Answers
SECTION 1: LICENSING & REGISTRATION
Question 1 What does CSLB stand for?
A. California State Licensing Bureau
B. Contractors State License Board
C. California Standards Licensing Board
D. Construction State License Bureau
E. California State Labor Board
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Contractors State License Board
RATIONALE: The CSLB is the state agency in California that regulates the
construction industry by licensing contractors and investigating consumer complaints.
Question 2 What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a contractor's license in
California?
A. 16 years old
B. 17 years old
C. 18 years old
D. 21 years old
E. 25 years old
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 18 years old
, RATIONALE: California law requires all applicants for a contractor's license to be
at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
Question 3 How many years of journey-level experience are required to qualify for a
Class B General Contractor license?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 4 years
E. 5 years
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 4 years
RATIONALE: Applicants must have at least four years of journey-level experience
within the past ten years in the classification they are applying for.
Question 4 Which of the following is NOT a classification under the CSLB?
A. Class A – General Engineering Contractor
B. Class B – General Building Contractor
C. Class C – Specialty Contractor
D. Class D – Design Contractor
E. None of the above
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Class D – Design Contractor
RATIONALE: CSLB only issues three main classifications: Class A (General
Engineering), Class B (General Building), and Class C (Specialty). There is no Class D
designation.
Question 5 What is the license renewal period for a California contractor's license?
A. Every year
B. Every 18 months
,C. Every 2 years
D. Every 3 years
E. Every 5 years
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Every 2 years
RATIONALE: California contractor licenses must be renewed every two years.
CSLB sends renewal notices approximately 90 days before the expiration date.
Question 6 What is the maximum civil penalty the CSLB can impose for contracting
without a license?
A. $500
B. $1,000
C. $5,000
D. $10,000
E. $15,000
CORRECT ANSWER: C. $5,000
RATIONALE: Under California Business and Professions Code, the CSLB can
impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for unlicensed contracting activity.
Question 7 A Class B General Contractor may perform work in which of the following
situations WITHOUT a subcontractor?
A. When the project involves only one trade
B. When two or more unrelated trades are required
C. When the project value is under $500
D. When the owner provides written consent
E. When the project is residential only
CORRECT ANSWER: B. When two or more unrelated trades are required
, RATIONALE: A Class B contractor is defined as one who contracts for projects
that require two or more unrelated building trades. This distinguishes them from
specialty contractors.
Question 8 How long does a contractor have to report a change of address to the
CSLB?
A. 30 days
B. 60 days
C. 90 days
D. 6 months
E. 1 year
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 90 days
RATIONALE: Contractors must notify the CSLB of any change in business
address within 90 days of the change to keep their license in good standing.
Question 9 What type of bond is required to obtain a contractor's license in California?
A. Performance bond
B. Payment bond
C. Contractor's license bond
D. Surety bond
E. Fidelity bond
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Contractor's license bond
RATIONALE: California requires all licensed contractors to maintain a contractor's
license bond. As of recent requirements, the bond amount is $25,000.
Question 10 If a contractor's license expires, how long does the contractor have to
renew it without retaking the exam?
A. 1 year
EXAM 2026 STUDY GUIDE – VERIFIED
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | CALIFORNIA
CONTRACTOR LICENSE (CLASS B) A+ PREP
CSLB CLASS B GENERAL CONTRACTOR LICENSE EXAM 2026
California Contractor License – A+ Prep Study Guide
300 Verified Questions & Answers
SECTION 1: LICENSING & REGISTRATION
Question 1 What does CSLB stand for?
A. California State Licensing Bureau
B. Contractors State License Board
C. California Standards Licensing Board
D. Construction State License Bureau
E. California State Labor Board
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Contractors State License Board
RATIONALE: The CSLB is the state agency in California that regulates the
construction industry by licensing contractors and investigating consumer complaints.
Question 2 What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a contractor's license in
California?
A. 16 years old
B. 17 years old
C. 18 years old
D. 21 years old
E. 25 years old
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 18 years old
, RATIONALE: California law requires all applicants for a contractor's license to be
at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
Question 3 How many years of journey-level experience are required to qualify for a
Class B General Contractor license?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 4 years
E. 5 years
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 4 years
RATIONALE: Applicants must have at least four years of journey-level experience
within the past ten years in the classification they are applying for.
Question 4 Which of the following is NOT a classification under the CSLB?
A. Class A – General Engineering Contractor
B. Class B – General Building Contractor
C. Class C – Specialty Contractor
D. Class D – Design Contractor
E. None of the above
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Class D – Design Contractor
RATIONALE: CSLB only issues three main classifications: Class A (General
Engineering), Class B (General Building), and Class C (Specialty). There is no Class D
designation.
Question 5 What is the license renewal period for a California contractor's license?
A. Every year
B. Every 18 months
,C. Every 2 years
D. Every 3 years
E. Every 5 years
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Every 2 years
RATIONALE: California contractor licenses must be renewed every two years.
CSLB sends renewal notices approximately 90 days before the expiration date.
Question 6 What is the maximum civil penalty the CSLB can impose for contracting
without a license?
A. $500
B. $1,000
C. $5,000
D. $10,000
E. $15,000
CORRECT ANSWER: C. $5,000
RATIONALE: Under California Business and Professions Code, the CSLB can
impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for unlicensed contracting activity.
Question 7 A Class B General Contractor may perform work in which of the following
situations WITHOUT a subcontractor?
A. When the project involves only one trade
B. When two or more unrelated trades are required
C. When the project value is under $500
D. When the owner provides written consent
E. When the project is residential only
CORRECT ANSWER: B. When two or more unrelated trades are required
, RATIONALE: A Class B contractor is defined as one who contracts for projects
that require two or more unrelated building trades. This distinguishes them from
specialty contractors.
Question 8 How long does a contractor have to report a change of address to the
CSLB?
A. 30 days
B. 60 days
C. 90 days
D. 6 months
E. 1 year
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 90 days
RATIONALE: Contractors must notify the CSLB of any change in business
address within 90 days of the change to keep their license in good standing.
Question 9 What type of bond is required to obtain a contractor's license in California?
A. Performance bond
B. Payment bond
C. Contractor's license bond
D. Surety bond
E. Fidelity bond
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Contractor's license bond
RATIONALE: California requires all licensed contractors to maintain a contractor's
license bond. As of recent requirements, the bond amount is $25,000.
Question 10 If a contractor's license expires, how long does the contractor have to
renew it without retaking the exam?
A. 1 year
